Abstract: The disclosure relates to cryoablation probe assemblies including a cryoablation probe and sheath configured to accelerate thawing of the probe from frozen, treated tissue. The sheath can include a plurality of channels configured to direct saline or other biocompatible fluid to the treated tissue. The sheath is configured to slide and advance distally over the cryoablation probe to continually thaw the tissue until the cryoablation probe is freed. Methods of treating atrial fibrillation with a cryoablation probe assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for connecting a compatibility liner with a source of perishable therapeutic is provided. In one exemplary system for connecting a reservoir of perishable therapeutic with a lumen, a hollow hub having a first end and a second end is provided. The first end of the hollow hub, which contains a bond port, is in fluid communication with the second end. The second end of the hollow hub may contain a docking groove that is sized to couple a reservoir to it. The system also includes an inner hypo-tube having a proximal tip and an inner lumen. This inner lumen is lined with a therapeutic compatible lining and is in fluid communication with the second end of the hub through the proximal tip of the inner hypo-tube. The inner lining and the proximal tip in this system are configured to shield therapeutic ejected from the reservoir from contacting materials that can diminish the integrity of the therapeutic.

Abstract: A system for connecting a compatibility liner with a source of perishable therapeutic is provided. In one exemplary system for connecting a reservoir of perishable therapeutic with a lumen, a hollow hub having a first end and a second end is provided. The first end of the hollow hub, which contains a bond port, is in fluid communication with the second end. The second end of the hollow hub may contain a docking groove that is sized to couple a reservoir to it. The system also includes an inner hypo-tube having a proximal tip and an inner lumen. This inner lumen is lined with a therapeutic compatible lining and is in fluid communication with the second end of the hub through the proximal tip of the inner hypo-tube. The inner lining and the proximal tip in this system are configured to shield therapeutic ejected from the reservoir from contacting materials that can diminish the integrity of the therapeutic.

Abstract: Devices and methods for monitoring the flow of blood through an intravascular device are disclosed. An apparatus for monitoring blood flow in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an intravascular device coupled to an elongated member, a first sensor adapted to measure fluidic pressure proximal the intravascular device, a second sensor adapted to measure fluidic pressure distal the intravascular device, and a control unit for comparing the signals received from the first and second sensors to determine the pressure drop across the intravascular device.

Abstract: An embolic protection filter and method of making the same. An embolic protection filter may include a filter membrane or material having a plurality of holes. In some embodiments, the filter membrane may be manufactured by spray coating a filter material onto a forming member or spray mold.

Abstract: A system for connecting a compatibility liner with a source of perishable therapeutic is provided. In one exemplary system for connecting a reservoir of perishable therapeutic with a lumen, a hollow hub having a first end and a second end is provided. The first end of the hollow hub, which contains a bond port, is in fluid communication with the second end. The second end of the hollow hub may contain a docking groove that is sized to couple a reservoir to it. The system also includes an inner hypo-tube having a proximal tip and an inner lumen. This inner lumen is lined with a therapeutic compatible lining and is in fluid communication with the second end of the hub through the proximal tip of the inner hypo-tube. The inner lining and the proximal tip in this system are configured to shield therapeutic ejected from the reservoir from contacting materials that can diminish the integrity of the therapeutic.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing improved percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) procedures. One device includes a preassembled PMR drug delivery catheter and a drug neutralizing vial. The vial assembly allows prepping the PMR catheter by flushing drug through distal needle, and into a vial cavity where the drug is neutralized by a neutralizing agent. One set of devices includes needles having protrusions secured to the distal regions of drug delivery tubes. One needle has outward protruding barbs engaging the inner tube wall while another needle has outward threads which can screw into the tube inner wall. Radiopaque marker bands are also included in the present invention which are asymmetrically distributed on the catheter shaft, allowing a treating physician to determine under fluoroscopy whether the catheter distal region is pointed away or toward the treating physician, as well as determining whether the catheter distal region is rotated toward or away from the treating physician.

Abstract: Intravascular filters formed by a molding process can have a plurality of integrally formed apertures. A molding process can utilize a mold assembly that includes a mold having a mold surface and a die having a die surface. The mold assembly includes plurality of protrusions that extend from at least one of the mold surface and the die surface. A molten material is placed within a portion of the mold, and the die is then inserted into the mold such that the plurality of protrusions span a distance between the die surface and the mold surface. The molten material is allowed to solidify, thereby forming a filter membrane that includes a plurality of integrally formed apertures.

Abstract: Myocardial revascularization catheters and methods are provided herein. Catheters in accord with the present invention may include an outer shaft and an inner shaft where the inner shaft may be slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer shaft and the distal movement of the inner shaft may be arrested by the engagement of stops and catches located within the inner and outer shaft Methods in accord with the current invention may include providing a therapeutic, providing a radiopaque contrast media, injecting the therapeutic through a lumen into the myocardium of the heart, and injecting the radiopaque contrast media through a lumen into myocardium of the heart. In this example, the location of the injection the radiopaque material may be chosen to indicate the injection point of the injection of the therapeutic.

Abstract: A catheter shaft assembly is disclosed. A catheter shaft in accordance with the present invention comprises a first elongate shaft having an inner surface defining a lumen, a second elongate shaft slidingly disposed within the lumen of the first elongate shaft, at least one interstitial member disposed between the inner surface of the first elongate shaft and the outer surface of the second elongate shaft.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is disclosed. This assembly may include a first elongate member having an internal lumen and a distal portion, a second elongate member, slidable within the first elongate member, and a spacer positioned between the second elongate member and the first elongate member. In this example, the spacer may be positioned at bendable portions of the first elongate member and the second elongate member such that the spacer maintains a substantially uniform spacing between the second elongate member and the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.

Abstract: Methods of selectively treating linear elastic materials to produce localized areas of superelasticity and/or shape-memory are disclosed. In an illustrative method, a linear elastic workpiece may be formed into a particular shape by cold-forming or other low-temperature process, and incorporated into a medical device such as an embolic protection filter, vena cava filter, stent or guidewire. A heat source may be used to apply thermal energy to selective areas of the workpiece, imparting superelasticity to the material.

Abstract: A medical device includes a coil having a longitudinal axis and a radial axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, formed from a wire. The wire includes a cross-section with a centroid, a moment of inertia with respect to an axis running through the centroid and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil, and a moment of inertia with respect to an axis running through the centroid and parallel to the radial axis of the coil. The moment of inertia with respect to an axis running through the centroid and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil is greater than the moment of inertia with respect to an axis running through the centroid and parallel to the radial axis of the coil.

Abstract: Many conventional pharmaceutical articles contain seemingly inert components that come into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, which contact substantially reduces the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns various modifications to these incompatible components, which are effective to diminish the reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.

Abstract: An embolic protection filter and method of making the same. An embolic protection filter may include a filter membrane or material having a plurality of holes. In some embodiments, the filter membrane may be manufactured by spray coating a filter material onto a forming member or spray mold.

Abstract: Devices and methods for monitoring the flow of blood through an intravascular device are disclosed. An apparatus for monitoring blood flow in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an intravascular device coupled to an elongated member, a first sensor adapted to measure fluidic pressure proximal the intravascular device, a second sensor adapted to measure fluidic pressure distal the intravascular device, and a control unit for comparing the signals received from the first and second sensors to determine the pressure drop across the intravascular device.

Abstract: Myocardial revascularization catheters and methods are provided herein. Catheters in accord with the present invention may include an outer shaft and an inner shaft where the inner shaft may be slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer shaft and the distal movement of the inner shaft may be arrested by the engagement of stops and catches located within the inner and outer shaft Methods in accord with the current invention may include providing a therapeutic, providing a radiopaque contrast media, injecting the therapeutic through a lumen into the myocardium of the heart, and injecting the radiopaque contrast media through a lumen into myocardium of the heart. In this example, the location of the injection the radiopaque material may be chosen to indicate the injection point of the injection of the therapeutic.

Abstract: A modified medical device for delivery of a pharmaceutically active material is described. The present inventors have found that many conventional medical devices contain a metallic or polymeric component that comes into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, and that the contact substantially reduce the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns various modifications to the metallic or polymeric component that are effective to diminish such a substantial reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing improved percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) procedures. One device includes a preassembled PMR drug delivery catheter and a drug neutralizing vial. The vial assembly allows prepping the PMR catheter by flushing drug through distal needle, and into a vial cavity where the drug is neutralized by a neutralizing agent. One set of devices includes needles having protrusions secured to the distal regions of drug delivery tubes. One needle has outward protruding barbs engaging the inner tube wall while another needle has outward threads which can screw into the tube inner wall. Radiopaque marker bands are also included in the present invention which are asymmetrically distributed on the catheter shaft, allowing a treating physician to determine under fluoroscopy whether the catheter distal region is pointed away or toward the treating physician, as well as determining whether the catheter distal region is rotated toward or away from the treating physician.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing improved percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) procedures. One device includes a preassembled PMR drug delivery catheter and a drug neutralizing vial. The vial assembly allows prepping the PMR catheter by flushing drug through distal needle, and into a vial cavity where the drug is neutralized by a neutralizing agent. One set of devices includes needles having protrusions secured to the distal regions of drug delivery tubes. One needle has outward protruding barbs engaging the inner tube wall while another needle has outward threads which can screw into the tube inner wall. Radiopaque marker bands are also included in the present invention which are asymmetrically distributed on the catheter shaft, allowing a treating physician to determine under fluoroscopy whether the catheter distal region is pointed away or toward the treating physician, as well as determining whether the catheter distal region is rotated toward or away from the treating physician.